The Chinese national football team has officially started training in Haikou to prepare for the upcoming top 18 matches. After nearly a year of adaptation, head coach Ivan Kozlovic has finally initiated an intense "cleaning" process. This reform is swift and fierce, leaving little room for compromise. The fate of four players has been completely rewritten, as the "immunity period" for nepotism has ended. Behind this ruthless elimination, Ivan's determination and goal are crystal clear: to take the national team further.
It is crucial to note that the prospects for the national team in this edition of the top 18 matches are significant. With six points after the first six rounds, they sit at the bottom of the group, but the hope of qualifying for the World Cup remains shrouded in suspense. At this critical juncture, every decision Ivan makes concerns the future of the national team. To prevent the "deadwood" of the past from continuing to drag down the team, he resolutely launched a large-scale "cleaning" with the support of the Football Association.
Behind the list described as "cruel," two veterans were mercilessly eliminated - Zhang Linpeng and Wu Xi. As former captains of the national team, their fall from grace was not unexpected. In recent years, these two players have shown a noticeable decline in form, yet they were frequently selected due to their "nepotistic" status, always starting in matches regardless of their performance. Fans' anger had been accumulating for a long time, but nothing ever changed. However, Ivan's arrival has completely transformed the situation. He does not care about past honors; what he cares about is the players' attitude and performance.
More surprisingly, the national team's star player and captain, Wu Lei, has also been directly abandoned by Ivan this time. In the past, no matter his state, Wu Lei was always a "must-have" for the national team, even when slightly injured, the national team would plead for his return. However, Ivan's focus is not on the fame of the players but on their attitude and form. Now, the inclusion of Hou Yongyong is gradually making people forget Wu Lei's presence, which also proves that Ivan's selection is correct.
For naturalized player Li Ke, Ivan's handling was even more direct - Li Ke, who refused the call-up to the national team, was ultimately placed on the "blacklist." This move marks that Ivan views the construction of the national team more long-term, and no one is irreplaceable. This is a complete "reshuffle" and a re-evaluation of the players' attitudes and loyalty.
In this "cleaning," Ivan did not overlook young players but instead showed a particularly obvious inclination towards promoting new talent. Young players like Bai Helamu, Xie Wenne, and Hu Hetao have received more playing opportunities under Ivan's tutelage, showcasing their promising potential. Ivan's vision is unique, and his planning for the future of the national team has become increasingly clear.
In fact, Ivan's reforms have already made many fans start to look forward to future changes. Although this cleaning is somewhat decisive, it undoubtedly injects new blood into the national team, allowing fans to see more possibilities. As Ivan's position as head coach becomes more stable, the combat effectiveness of the national team is gradually recovering. If the national team can secure another six points in the next four matches, for example, by double-killing Indonesia and Bahrain or even drawing with Australia or Saudi Arabia, then our qualification for the United States, Canada, and Mexico is not out of reach.
Faced with all this, it must be said that Ivan's reform steps are very bold, whether it is completely abandoning "nepotism" or boldly promoting fresh blood, he has left no retreat. It can be said that Ivan has pushed the national team to a new starting point. Whether success will come or not ultimately depends on the actual performance of the players - but at least now, fans see a more hopeful national team, one that no longer relies on fame, dares to reform, and has clear goals.
The road ahead has just begun.